Could Being Politically Correct Cause Psychological Damage and Mental Retardation?

I don't let other people do the thinking for me, I think on my own. Try it out sometime.

edit on 23-11-2012 by Trustfund because: (no reason given)

Trustfund, you have some good points. I have three questions for you - have you ever felt pressured by liberal society to share their viewpoints on an
issue you differ on, do you have any viewpoints that differ from liberal society, and also how open are you with your friends?

The last question is most important, because the original purpose I even thought of this discussion was that I am afraid to be open to
people because they might be offended by my views or personality (and you can never tell what philosophy the other guy or girl adheres
to).

I think it probably would do everyone some good to get out there and socialize with people, even if they aren't carbon copies of
yourself. It does no one any good to become more polarized. And this requires being open to opposing viewpoints.

Being PC 100% of the time can turn a person into a pathological liar who refuses to publicly acknowledge the truth for the sake of being accepted by
other people who are willing to do the same. I'd rather tell it like it is and be accepted for who I am instead of someone I pretend to be.
However, that isn't a realistic option for many people in today's society.

I agree with you on this, which is why I asked Trustfund how open he is with his friends. I find that trying to be PC has made me, like you said, a
pathological liar acting like someone I am not. This affects how open I can be with people.

Thus, we get to the point of the thread, which is whether or not being politically correct can cause psychological damage.

If Trustfund wishes to address this, he can take this into a society where liberal views are dominant and conservative views are irrelevant - I am
most interested in this.

I lived in a society like this and had to take on gay traits in order to avoid offending people, it was obviously an act.

And I do think for myself, as Ive stated in this thread more than once.

I don't think you do. Pretty sure you're just societally conditioned to view gay marriage as a weird or negative thing... There is no reason why a
straight person would care about gay people being legally allowed to marry as it has zero affect on your life.

But if you're not influenced by society, then you're influenced by your own self importance... as you think you should be able to discriminate on
others due to solely YOUR beliefs. This is actually worse than the latter option. Why be proud to oppress others?

Originally posted by MisterMarbles
Being PC 100% of the time can turn a person into a pathological liar who refuses to publicly acknowledge the truth for the sake of being accepted by
other people who are willing to do the same. I'd rather tell it like it is and be accepted for who I am instead of someone I pretend to be.
However, that isn't a realistic option for many people in today's society.

Exactly, which is why some people voted for Obama, to prove to their peers that they werent racist.
People also claim to support gays or gay marriage because theyre afraid their peers will say they hate or are homophobic.
It happens on this site all the time.

You cannot possibly avoid pissing someone off. I don't even try. The way I see it, if you are not mentally unbalanced you won't hold something I say
against me. If you do you would snap at anything no matter how trivial its importance and how convoluted your reasoning is.

I prefer honesty over manners. Manners are what A-holes use to avoid getting caught being jerks.

The kickass people I have met were rude at times and when they felt it appropriate were foul mouthed but they were HONEST always.

The vast majority of pricks I have met were well mannered and PC. They were also a pain in the ass to talk to and learn from. They seemed pretty dumb
as well. I felt dumber just being around them.

I would look at political correctness as the forced adaptation to a promoted peer pressure situation. Could it dumb down people, I think so. They
always have to second guess their nature and therefore have to adapt by deliberatly stifling their opinions, or their world-view. This rewires the
brain so that opinions eventually disappear, but what else disappers, creativity? A sense of self? Political Correctness is a restrictive societal
technology that forces conformance rather than creativity, it is the "drone" mentality.

Buddhism, which also requires self examination and restraint is a bit different, it seems to concentrate on the examination of processes and stifling
of the views of the ego pertaining to self and reality. A forced look inside through mental masochism (the almost constant diametrically opposed
questioning of self and reality) to bring personal insight rather than a peer pressure based increase in "herd" conformity.

So, IMHO, in one form of self examination and restraint you have personal growth and the other, drone conformity depending on how the application of
restraintand examination is applied.

Now don't be part of the herd and look at ways to bill the CRA and the IRS for regulatory compliance. Link below.

have you ever felt pressured by liberal society to share their viewpoints on an issue you differ on

NO. lol. Is society even liberal? Not liberal enough for me. But then again, I'm a leftist, not a liberal.

do you have any viewpoints that differ from liberal society

I would say gun rights, but most Americans and liberals I know are pro~gun ownership.

and also how open are you with your friends?

Yeah, I debate them all the time. But it is mostly combating the conservative views they harbor. Most of my friends are liberal though, which is
normal being from the north and in college.

The last question is most important, because the original purpose I even thought of this discussion was that I am afraid to be open to people because
they might be offended by my views or personality

I don't think this has anything to do with political correctness, it's just the human herd mentality. A lot of people have problems holding views
without other people backing them. Or it is people just being too lazy to form real viewpoints so they just repeat talking points.

In the social sciences there is a standing debate over the primacy of structure or agency in shaping human behavior. Agency is the capacity of
individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.[1] Structure is the recurrent patterned arrangements which influence or limit the
choices and opportunities available.[1] The debate can be contrasted with the "nature verses nurture" debate, which questions whether biological
determinism ("nature") or socialisation ("nurture") predominates in the formation of an individual's identity. In contrast, the structure verses
agency debate may be understood as an issue of socialisation against autonomy in determining whether an individual acts as a free agent or in a manner
dictated by social structure.

From the moment Mitt Romney stepped off stage Tuesday night, having just delivered a brief concession speech he wrote only that evening, the
massive infrastructure surrounding his campaign quickly began to disassemble itself.
Aides taking cabs home late that night got rude awakenings when they found the credit cards linked to the campaign no longer worked.

Most of the people complaining about "political correctness" tend to be some of the most sensitive groups of people you can come across when they
perceive that someone has offended their personal "value system" or political beliefs.

How many people complaining about political correctness right now were outraged over Lindsey Stone, and/or supported her being fired for making an
obscene gesture next to a sign at the Arlington National Cemetery?

Anyone in here complaining about lacking true freedom of expression should not be offended by that photo, and should actually support this woman's
right to do exactly what she did.

I agree with you on this, which is why I asked Trustfund how open he is with his friends. I find that trying to be PC has made me, like you said, a
pathological liar acting like someone I am not. This affects how open I can be with people.

Thus, we get to the point of the thread, which is whether or not being politically correct can cause psychological damage.

I believe it can for some people. There are people who feel badly after telling just one lie. Telling a slew of lies to fit into a group of liars so
you can maintain a job or a social group can exacerbate the problem. It can destroy one's pride and self esteem. I'd call that psychological
damage.

On the other hand, there are people who have absolutely no problem perpetuating lies to get what they want, which is usually money, sex or social
status. I'd call that sociopathic behavior.

I'm sure there are people who are 100% PC and truly mean it 100% of the time. However, I haven't met a person like that.

Originally posted by lee anoma
A modicum of self-restraint can cause you mental damage?

Most of the people complaining about "political correctness" tend to be some of the most sensitive groups of people you can come across when they
perceive that someone has offended their personal "value system" or political beliefs.

How many people complaining about political correctness right now were outraged over Lindsey Stone, and/or supported her being fired for making an
obscene gesture next to a sign at the Arlington National Cemetery?

Anyone in here complaining about lacking true freedom of expression should not be offended by that photo, and should actually support this woman's
right to do exactly what she did.

- Lee

Theres a difference in being offended by something and not supporting it.
I can be offended by that picture all I want, yet I still support her right to do what she did and believe what she wants.
Some people on here dont give that, they get offended and then proceed to tell us how wrong we are in believing the way we believe. See the
difference.

And getting fired for things people do away from their jobs is a growing trend and one that I think is ridiculous.
I only see that getting worse though.

And I do think for myself, as Ive stated in this thread more than once.

I don't think you do. Pretty sure you're just societally conditioned to view gay marriage as a weird or negative thing... There is no reason why a
straight person would care about gay people being legally allowed to marry as it has zero affect on your life.

But if you're not influenced by society, then you're influenced by your own self importance... as you think you should be able to discriminate on
others due to solely YOUR beliefs. This is actually worse than the latter option. Why be proud to oppress others?

edit on 23-11-2012 by Trustfund because: (no reason given)

Ohhhh, I get it. So I am opposed to homosexuality because I was conditioned to be that way and because I follow the masses and cant think for
myself?
However, you agree with homosexuality because you are a free thinker and go against the grain, even though polls show a 51 to 48% in favor of it?
I bet the book "My two daddies/mommies" was required reading in your elementary school

Originally posted by Juggernog
Theres a difference in being offended by something and not supporting it.

I am aware of that.

I can be offended by that picture all I want, yet I still support her right to do what she did and believe what she wants.

Of course you can.
I'm offended by hate-speech but I respect the fact that people have a right to it.

I'm talking about people who were offended and wanted her punished for her behavior. That same group who wants the right to offend others with their
own words has no problem calling for someone's head who they deem is being 'unpatriotic'.

They should be supporting that woman not condemning her.
Especially if they believe in true freedom of expression.

And getting fired for things people do away from their jobs is a growing trend and one that I think is ridiculous.
I only see that getting worse though.

It's not a growing trend, it's perfectly legal.
Unless she lives in Montana or has a union contract her employment is "at-will".

She can take it up with the Labor board to see if she has a case, but you can be held responsible for your behavior on social media outside of work.
Some employers have rules specifically about it these days.

May not like that she got fired, but it certainly isn't out of bounds.
I think she just got a raw deal all around for being silly.

Far too many people squawk about the evils of 'political correctness' without realising that it is 90% good manners and common courtesy. Yes,
one has the right to speak their piece. One even has the right to be a jerk about it. One also retains the right to be handed their figurative arse
for causing offence.

I like folks who consider the impact of their words before they spout off.

Ohhhh, I get it. So I am opposed to homosexuality because I was conditioned to be that way and because I follow the masses and cant think for
myself?

Either that or you have an self importance power trip problem where you feel you should have the right to discriminate upon other people. Like I
said;

But if you're not influenced by society, then you're influenced by your own self importance... as you think you should be able to discriminate
on others due to solely YOUR beliefs. This is actually worse than the latter option. Why be proud to oppress others?

However, you agree with homosexuality because you are a free thinker and go against the grain, even though polls show a 51 to 48% in favor of
it?

Well it largely is based off on where you live..but uh, being a "rebel" like you are, doesn't equate to free thought. I don't know why you think
this.

I bet the book "My two daddies/mommies" was required reading in your elementary school

This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression.